Trying to decide on what breed of dog to get as the newest addition to your family can be a challenge.  If this is your first dog or even fourth, deciding on the breed is important as well as tricky.  Reading about the different breeds, doing your research, and then finding the one for you can all take time and energy.

Here are the top 10 family friendly dog breeds with a quick description of all, hopefully helping save you time and energy.

10.  Bulldog 

A bulldog is a great family friendly breed of dog.  They are a sturdy breed so playing with children and a little roughhousing won’t be a problem.  They’re also equally comfortable in an apartment compared to a house.  Most bulldogs get along with other animals as well; however they won’t get the “most energetic” award.  Having said this, they are always willing to play games and run around with people.

9.  Hungarian Viszla

This is a great breed for an active family.  This is a great dog breed for an active family, usually with older children.  The Hungarian Viszla is a very loyal and smart dog.  They are able to learn new tricks quickly and easily.  They also tend to be more gentle and obedient.

8.  Bull Terrier

A Bull Terrier dog is a great pick for a family.  They’re friendly and loving to both adults as well as children.  They actually have a high threshold for pain, helping children learn to treat a dog correctly.  The dog enjoys having space to play, however a fenced in yard works fine as they are fine running around on their own.

7.  Border Collie

This dog breed gets along with all family members, children and adults alike.  They’re a great dog breed for a first time dog family as they are a predictable breed, rarely misbehaving, and also easily trainable.  This breed enjoys being outside as well as running around in nature and the outdoors.

6.  Newfoundland

The Newfoundland dog breed is considered one of the smartest breeds in the world.  They are very protective of children as well.  Although a big dog, they’re very gentle, patient and kind.  This breed is best suited for a family with a large open space for it to run around.

5.  Irish Setter

The Irish Setter is ideal for a family with a yard.  Very energetic and needing lots of energy, it is a great breed for young children as they can match each other’s energy and play.  They love to be around the family and tend to be well behaved as well.

4.  Beagle

The Beagle has a calm temperament making him a great fit for families.  Perfect for kids that love the outdoors, they are always interested in exploring nature or going on a walk down a trail.  This breed also gets along well with other pets and always has energy to play whatever game you may want.

3.  Poodle

The Poodle is available in both a miniature and standard size making it easy to find one to fit into your current lifestyle.  If you or your children have allergies, a Poodle sheds very little so it will be easy to maintain.  They’re playful and gentle with both family members as well as other animals in the house.

2.  Labrador Retriever

One of the most popular dog breeds, the Labrador Retriever is playful, patient, loving, protective and reliable.  They’re a very smart breed and are easily trained.  They do need a lot of exercise and a little extra room for running around is an added bonus. 

1.  Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is known for being a confident, smart, kind and loyal dog.  They aren’t aggressive but also aren’t timid.  They’re very patient thus making them excellent around children.  They do need lots of exercise and they enjoy playing fetch like games. 

Hopefully after reading a little about the top 10 dog breeds for families you have a better idea what to search for.  It could be an active dog or one that doesn’t need as much exercise, with so many to look into it can be a tough challenge.